Newcastle are hoping to add further strength to their team in the January transfer window. (Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle are hoping to add further strength to their team in the January transfer window. (Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everton's squad needs more depth and, on a Bosman, David Moyes couldn't get much better than this versatile attacker.
Everton are in good shape heading into the summer transfer window, even if they run out of steam and fail to qualify for Europe.
Making it into the top seven or winning the FA Cup would move the goalposts for David Moyes in terms of transfer budget though which would make him a lot more relaxed than he was last season when he was “desperate” to get deals done. The Toffees are now looking up the table though, rather than over their shoulder, which should make persuading players to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium a lot easier too.
Everton linked with Julian Brandt
What will also help his cause is players like Jack Grealish speaking so highly of his time on Merseyside with the on-loan Man City star loving what Everton is all about as a club and how Moyes treats his players. A cut-price deal for Grealish has been suggested as a possibility and at this stage of his career, being appreciated by the fans and playing regularly, will be more important than the size of his salary. As seen with his untimely injury though, Moyes needs more depth and variety and the Liverpool Echo claims that a move for a Bundesliga bargain could be on the cards.
Borussia Dortmund have announced that Julian Brandt won’t be extending his contract and the versatile attacking midfielder is available on a Bosman deal. Capable of playing anywhere from midfield to behind the striker – although he prefers to play on the left – the 29-year old would be the perfect additoin to a squad that regularly needs players to be adaptable. With roughly one goal contribution every three games for Dortmund, he is as low risk as signings come and won’t be short of offers in the summer.
When Brandt nearly moved to Merseyside
As a 20-year old, Brandt came close to signing for city rivals Liverpool and would have done if Jurgen Klopp got his way according to their former director of research, Ian Graham. Speaking on the BBC documentary, How to Win the Champions League: Liverpool last year, he said: “Jurgen’s preferred option for that summer was Julian Brandt, who was a great player. Jurgen had obviously known him very well, coming from the Bundesliga, and knew the German market very well.
“We agreed that Brandt was a very good young player but not a standout in the same way that Mo was. From our data analysis point of view Mo was the best young wide forward in Europe, full stop.
“Roma were under pressure to sell because their finances were not in a good place, so we knew he was available for a good price. He played a forward and wide role that we needed to fill at the time, whereas Brandt was more of an attacking midfielder.
“It’s to Jurgen’s credit that he engaged in that debate in an honest way with his eyes open to say: ‘Okay, I’m open to be convinced, show me that Mo is better.’” He maybe didn’t go on to have the same impact as Salah, but Brandt would improve Everton’s squad and starting XI without breaking the bank.
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